There’s been plenty of speculation surrounding who will fill the final spot on the Factory Ducati MXGP team for the 2026 season – and the latest rumour suggests that Calvin Vlaanderen could be the man heading to the Italian manufacturer. Credit to Italian based site, 5secondi.net with the first call on the rumour.
Ducati have made no secret of their ambition to enter the 2026 with a strong line-up and were reportedly keen on signing Maxime Renaux. However, the Frenchman still has one year remaining on his Factory Yamaha contract, and that appears to have been a major stumbling block for Ducati. As a result, Renaux will remain with Yamaha for 2026, where he’s expected to be joined by five-time world champion Tim Gajser, as the team reduce their MXGP roster from three riders down to two.
With Jago Geerts set to be announced as a Factory Beta rider soon, it leaves Calvin Vlaanderen looking for a new opportunity – and Ducati could be that next big step. It’s believed that had Renaux made the move to Ducati, Vlaanderen would have stayed with Yamaha, but following the latest developments, he now looks set to head to Ducati instead. Yamaha confirmed yesterday that they’ve officially parted ways with the South African.
Ducati are expected to field a three-rider line-up in MXGP next season, with Jeremy Seewer already under contract and Andrea Bonacorsi anticipated to follow Louis Vosters from Fantic to Ducati.
If the rumours prove true, Vlaanderen would complete the line-up in what would be a significant career change after five seasons aboard Yamaha machinery. Before securing full factory status, he spent time under the Gebben Yamaha awning, where he consistently impressed and built his reputation as one of the most professional and hard-working riders in the paddock.
An official announcement from Ducati is expected soon – stay tuned to see if Calvin Vlaanderen will indeed make the high-profile switch to red for 2026.
